with leaders, chased leader halfway, every chance approaching final furlong, stayed on same pace
soon led, headed over 3f out, hung left and weakened final furlong
slowly into stride, behind, ran green and hung left halfway, stayed on final furlong
dwelt, behind, headway on outside over 2f out, shaken up and ran on inside final furlong
in touch, one pace and no impression when carried left inside final furlong
held up in mid-division, headway on outer over 2f out, ridden to lead final 100 yards
in touch, ridden halfway, soon outpaced
held up in touch, ridden and no extra final 2f
soon ridden along and crossed over from wide draw to lead over 3f out, hard ridden over 1f out, headed and no extra final 100 yards
always outpaced, in rear
slowly into stride, behind, headway and switched right over 2f out, ran on well towards finish
This is not an easy race in which to identify the winner but we will opt for Makepeace over Flying Pass and, possibly, Fortnum, Happy Event and Border Music. The selection has good credentials for this race being owned by Sheikh Mohammed and trained by Mick Channon. The betting will, as ever, give clues as to his chance but, in a race where many of them look set to develop over time if breeding is anything to go by, we will stick with a more-likely option. Of the others, Flying Pass comes firmly into the reckoning based on his third to Aastral Magic at Kempton, even though the runner-up in that race has been beaten since. Fortnum cost 35,000 guineas but needs to step up on what he has so far shown in two runs. However, he will be encountering better going for the first time today and could improve for it. Maktavish's half-brother, Happy Event, the cheaply-bought Space Maker, Border Music's half-sister Marajuana, and the 24,000 guineas purchase My Princess are all ones to watch for in the betting but, for today, we will side with Makepeace.
